General

Western policy toward the Islamic Republic of Iran appears to be changing in many significant ways. The new administration in United States has begun a new policy review.

Those who had been concerned about the nature of the former administration’s appeasement policies now see signs that point to the new administration having a very different approach.

In fact, shortly after the new administration took office, Iran began a series of test launches of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles. By doing this, they risk violating a United Nations Security Council resolution calling upon the country to avoid provocative gestures following the 2015 Nuclear Deal.

They also targeted a number of other issues related to the Iran’s role in the broader Middle East, including its use of terrorist proxies.

United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, spoke to those concerns in her address last month, during an open debate on the Middle East. She called on the Security Council to put significant focus on Iran’s regional conduct and sponsorship of terror.

Several officials in the Trump administration have spoken out with similar criticisms and advocacy. Their beliefs, so different to the previous administration’s, who believed that the Nuclear Deal would bring about economic relief for Iran, and thus a more peaceful Tehran, show that America’s new foreign policy leaders have had no qualms about pointing out that Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism and a source of instability in the local region.

The issues of terrorism and regional involvement have contributed to President Trump’s conclusion that Tehran is violating the spirit of the nuclear agreement.

Additionally, the leading Iranian opposition group, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK), have recently reported that its operatives inside the country uncovered ongoing nuclear research at the institutions which were formerly tasked with weaponization programs. The US administration has stated that it is reviewing this new information carefully.

Revelations such as these should be a source of concern for anyone who is worried about the instability of the Middle East, as well as the safety of Western interests and assets. Those Western businesses and policymakers who have been eager to do business in the Iranian market, after sanctions were lifted via the nuclear agreement, should also be concerned with this new information.